Father and son scammers jailed

A father and son who scammed vulnerable pensioners out of thousands of pounds which their victims paid out for poor quality work were both jailed at Lincoln Crown Court today (Wed).

Anthony Newbury and his son Jack Newbury targeted victims offering top quality driveways which they claimed “would last for ever”.

Anthony Newbury ANL-150212-182227001

Ruth Bala, prosecuting, said that the victims were told they would be given a specific trademarked type of driveway made of stone bonded resin.

But instead lower quality tarmac and chippings was laid. In one case the quality was so poor that the new driveway was almost completely washed away by a rain storm.

On a number of occasions victims, having agreed a price, found themselves being asked for extra money and some were taken to cash machines to withdraw cash.

Miss Bala said that the two men, operating as Lincolnshire Servicing, struck at a number of places in 2013 and 2014 including Skegness, Burgh le Marsh, Mablethorpe and Holton-le-Clay.

Some of the poor work ANL-150212-182237001

Miss Bala said “This matter relates to what is known as doorstep selling. The defendants visited various homes of the complainants and handed out a leaflet.”

The leaflets included photographs of high quality driveways and the victims were told theirs would be similar.

But Miss Bala said “It was simply hot tar being sprayed on the drive and a thin layer of gravel placed on top so the drives were often left in a worse state than they had been before the work began.”

One victim, aged 90, agreed a price of £550 for her driveway to be replaced only for Anthony Newbury to later claim the cost was £500 per square metre and then demand £5,000. She contested the amount but still ended up agreeing to pay £2,200 but subsequently cancelled her cheque and only lost the £400 cash deposit she had paid.

An example of their shoddy work ANL-150212-182247001

A 72 year old agreed a price of £1,000 only to find the workmen took just an hour to complete the job and then demanded a further £500. When she said she could only afford another £100 and her offer to pay by cheque was rejected. Instead she was driven to her bank to withdraw cash. She asked for the money but the counter staff became suspicious and refused to give her the cash.

In total Anthony Newbury was paid more than £4,500 while his son, who was only involved in dealing with one victim, received a much smaller amount.

Anthony Newbury, 53, of Main Road, East Barkwith, Lincs, admitted eight charges of fraud and one charge of an infringing a registered trademark. He was jailed for 27 months.